Agritourism in New York

It's easy to understand why New Yorkers would occasionally like to get back to nature. After walking busy streets, staring at buildings, riding the subway and hailing cabs, an opportunity to enjoy animals and plant life is always welcome. This is why agritourism has taken hold in large cities like NYC, but where can you go to find it?

The Riverside Alpacas is a great place to start your agritourism adventure, especially if you like to look at and play with interesting animals. This farm is a small, private facility located in Jordan, New York, where you can visit to learn more about the Alpaca or about running your own farm. Adults and children alike are welcome, but this is also a working farm where Alpacas are raised, bred, shown and sheered.

Or, if you prefer vegetation to animals, you might want to try one of the U-Pick agritourism destinations, such as Abbott Farms in Baldwinsville. They're open from April until December every year, and attractions include everything from picking apples to selecting plants from their legendary greenhouse. They also offer free range beef and a country store packed with ice cream, cider and baked goods.

There are also opportunities for agritourism closer to NYC, if you don't want to explore all of New York to get back to nature. Roadside fruit and vegetable stands are located up and down the major routes leading out of the city, and petting zoos can be found as close as Central Park depending on the time of year.